Improvement in desks, tables, and shelves combined



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEVI H. MORRILL, OF FALMOUTH, AND ELBRIDGE G. P. SMITH, OF PORTLAND7 MAINE.

IMPROVEMENT IN DESKS, TABLES, AND SHELVES COMBINED.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 121,886, dated December 12, 1871 antedated December 2, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, LEVI H. MoRRILL, of Falmouth, and ELBRIDGE G. P. SMITH, of Portland, in the county of Cumberland and State of Maine, have invented a new and useful Improved Desk, Table, and Shelf Combined; and we hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being' made to the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 shows a top plan of the shelf, the ears by which it can be fastened to a wall or window or other place, the hinges on which one part may be folded upon the other, and a part of the bra-ces by which it is held up in a longitudinal position. Fig. 2 is an edge front View ofthe same, wherein are shown two drawers and the braces. Fig. 3 is a part bottom view of the shelf, showing how the two parts are fastened so as to be rmly held in the position seen in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a plan of the bar attached to the under side of the shelf, with which the shelf' is attached to a wall, 85e., the same showing elongated holes by which, in part, the distance of the shelf from the wall may be regulated. Fig. 5 is an end view of Fig. l. when the two parts are folded over each other', the position of the two drawers being shown therein. Fig. o' is an end edge View of the shelf' attached to a wall, etc., with the braces and manner of adjustment shown.

Same letters show like parts.

The purpose of our invention is to provide a portable or removable shelf or desk for a variety of evident purposes, which can be folded up for convenient transportation, which can be set horizontal or somewhat inclined, and which can be attached to a wall of a house or room in a variety of ways, such as convenience shall dictate.

We have shown in the drawing small studs to be screwed or driven into a wa-ll, with hooks to receive the plates a by entering the holes b. The holes or slots c on these plates receive bolts or other Iastenings, which secure the said plates to the under side of the shelf d, as seen in Fig. 6. e shows the manner of setting the hooks. From these hooks it is apparent the shelf can be lifted. When placed on the hooks the shelf' Z isfurther supported by the braces f h. fis slotted and pivoted to the shelf near the inner edge, (see i.) h is pivoted to the shelf' at or near the front edge, (see k,) and carries a thumb set-screw, l, which passes also through the slot m in the brace f. h merely rests against the wall at the lower end n. The shank of the thumb-screw l slides up and down in the slot m in the brace j', and can be held at any point by screwing the said screw inward and its bringing the head or knob to press on the exteriorl of the brace f. With this arrangement the shelf d can be set at any inclination as far as the slot admits of the same, or can be set in a horizontal position and there held by the braces and screw l, one set of such braces, of course, be ing at each end of the shelf. Next, the shelf can be folded up. Divided ato, it is lalso at this point united by hinges p. When not folded, as in Fig. l, it is made firm and stiff by the hooks and studs `rs on the under side, Fig. 5. These hooks being turned off the studs, the shelf can be doubled up, as in Fig. 5. Each half or division of the shelf is provided on its under side with a drawer, t t', which can be locked and used for many useful purposes. Thus it will be seen that a shelfl without drawers can be made from this to sustain flowers and plants either within or without a house-window, a desk attached to a wall for a standing writing-desk, or a portable writing-desk to be carried about and capable of being folded into a quite small compass.

What 'we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination ofthe divided shelfd, hinges p, plate o, hook e, slotted brace j', and brace h, as herein set forth, the same made rigid, when eX- tended, by means of hooks and studs 1^ s, as described.

2. The combination with the divided shelf d, having braces fh and upheld as set forth, of the drawers t t', as described.

Portland, May 2, 1871.

LEVI H. MORRILL, ELBRIDGE G. I. SMITH.

'GEORGE E. BIRD. (62) 

